Letter: Protect public lands

Published
1:33 pm EDT, Thursday, October 4, 2018

Protect public lands

On Nov. 6, we will be voting on a proposed amendment to the constitution of the State of Connecticut. This amendment is intended to ensure transparency in the process of selling, swapping or trading public land.

Currently, the General Assembly can require the sale of state parks, forests and other valuable public lands like watershed protection areas with no public input.

This amendment would require a public hearing and a 2/3 majority vote from the General Assembly before our state parks, forests and public lands could be sold, swapped or given away to private companies or local governments.

Public lands belong to us — the people of Connecticut. There should be a process in place to ensure that we have a voice in how our public lands are used. There must be accountability and transparency of public land transactions.

Last minute land sales or swaps at the end of legislative sessions would be prohibited by this amendment.

This amendment was approved by the General Assembly and is to be voted upon by the electors of each town in this state election on Nov. 6.

Once public land is sold, swapped or traded, we will never get it back. We should all vote ‘yes’ on Question #2 this November to approve this amendment.